Improvement in revolving fire-arms



G. W. B. GEDNEY.

Revolver.

No. 35,999. Patented July 29, 1862` Ustrrieio Smatres maar Ormea.,

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.A

Specification forming part of Letters P To all 'whom t't may concern:

Be it knownithat I, GEORGE W. B. GED- NEY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,making a part of this specication, in which- Fignre 1 represents a side view of a pistol with a portion ofthe barrel broken away. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal verticalsection through the same, showing the interior. Fig. 3 represents a section through the rear ot' the pistol to show the priming arrangement. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent details of the tire-arm detached from the arm.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur in theditterent figures, denote like parts ofthe arm in all cases.

This invention embraces several distinct objects, all of which tend to make the tire-arm valuable and reliable,as well as simple,cheap, and etleient. v

I enumerate my improvements as follows:

First. But one cone is used, and by making it with a broad ground-joint base it basa greater bearingssurface, is less liable to break by the concussion of the hammer ou its face, is more easily replaced in case it should break or become worn out, it obviates the necessity of making the cylinder one-third longer for cone-seats, and the cutting of them anda thread therein for as many cones as there are chambers, and by shortening the cylinder to alproper length for the charge it permits its weight to y be brought more to the rear or buttof the pistol and over the hand, where the principal weight of it ought to be.

Second. In the use of circular compensatingsprings, which I fasten to the frame in rear of the cylinder, the ends or edges of which are turned atnearly right angles, for the purpose of breaking into or entering radiating grooves cutin the rear of the cylinder between and equidistant from the vent-holes, which controls the revolution of and retains the cylinder in position until revolved by the recocking of the hammer. These springs and grooves also atent No. 35,999., dated July 29, 1862.

prevent the escape of gas at the joint between the face of the cylinder and the barrel by a uniform pressure, also the possible ignition oi' the charge in the other chambers through the vent, as sometimes occurs where caps are used.

Third. The making of the pin on which the cylinder revolves hollow, for the purpose of receiving and usinga stick of waterproof-composition priming free from copper, by which twenty or more discharges otl the chambers can be made with 'one primer, and which can be adjusted in less time than a cap for one discharge can be put on the cone, and when adjusted is not liable'to drop out or miss tire, as is frequently the case with the best of caps. The primer is inserted in a slot in the stockframe forward of the cylinder, as will be hereinafter explained.

Fourth. In using the trigger-guard as a lever to ram home the charge inserted in the chambers when the bow ofthe guard becomes4 a spring to hold itself in position when acting as a guard alone.

Fifth. In cuttingoff the primingfrom a stick of priming material and carrying it up to the -t'ront ofthe hammer, so that the hammer will take and explode it against the nipple.

Sixth. In the use of a single spring on the under side of the barrel for keeping the plunger and cylinderpin in place, and allowing the plunger to bc withdrawn independent of the pin.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents the stock, B the barrel, C the revolving eylinder,and B the hammer, of a pistol, these parts being made in any of the usual well-known ways, or of any ordinary material used for that purpose.

D represents a portion of the frame of the arm behind the cylinder. In this frame is placed a single cone, a, which serves to ignite all the charges as they come around opposite to it by means of the priming exploded against it by the hammer. The cone tits close up against the rear ot' the cylinder G, as seen 1n the drawings, and by removing the cylinder the cone can be slipped out of its seat at any time, it .not being screwed in, as is usual in fire-arms,

Y bet Ween the y as above stated, viz: They press the cylinder forward against the barrel 5 they scrape o" the gas the cylinder; butespecially they ferm a cutoff chamber that is to be exploded and the adjacent loaded one,and thus prevent the tire ot' the priming from igniting the adjacent or any other loaded chamber.

d, Fig. 5, shows the ratchet by which the cylinder is ievolved by means of a dog or pawl, c, (shown in red in Fig. 2,) in the usual way. There are no nipples in the cylinder, and hence it may be lighter and more cheaply made than when each chamber has its own nipple.

The pinf, upon which the cylinder C is revolved, is made hollow, so as to receive the priming which I use, and which is shown in red'lines in Fig. 2. rl`hrough the pinfis passed a plunger, g, which, by means of an inclosed spring, forces the priming up into proper position, where a cutter and carrier, h, that is actuated by the hammer B', takes a slice or portion, and raising it up to the line or path ofthe hammer, which takes it and, carrying it against the nipple a, explodes it, and through the nipple and vent opposite to it explodes the charge.

i is a spring, which holds both the pinfand plunger g in place, thelatter being susceptible of being withdrawn to insert a new stick of priming Without withdrawing the pin. Tile mode of inserting the priming is as follows: An opening,j, is made through the frame or casing of the arm, and, the plunger having been Iirst drawn back, the priming is slipped into the holej, and hence passes into the hol- 4 low ofthe pin j'. The plunger is then run down, which carries the priming clear back into the chamber through which the cutter or c'arrierh passes, the coiled springin the plunger keeping it fed up as the cutter or carrier takes it tothe hammer'.

Thetriocernard Eis hinfred atc, and u on es g e D its short arm is pivoted the rammer F, for ramming home the charges. Upon this trigger-guard there is a projection, m, which takes into an opening', u, in .the stock or casing, and the bow of the triggenguard acts as a spring to hold itself iirmly to the stock, but yet to be readily loosened when itis to be used as a rammer.

rlhe cutter and carrier h is operated from the hammer B, so as to move up and down through the shield crease, a sliceolr'the priming material at eachup-anddown movement ot1 4the hammer.

There are many details ot' the gun which it is deemed unnecessary to more particularly refer to, as they are clearly shown in the drawings-as, for instance, opposite the opeuiugj p in the frame there isacorresponding opening,

o, in the pinf, through which the priming is to pass to the hollow ofthe pin, and the notch p of the pin, which tits the angles and sides of the barrel, always brings these openings opposite to each other.

/Vhat I claim isl. Setting the nipple loosely in the frame, and without connecting it permanently with any part of the arm, substantially as and for I the purpose set forth.

2. The double circular springs in rear ofthe cylinder, made as described, and attached to the frarne, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Cutting oI the priming at right angles with the position ot' the primer in the hollow cylinder-pin and carrying the same to the front of the hammer, to be caught by the cup of the hammer-face, under an arrangement of parts' substantially such as set forth.

4. In combination with a hollow cylinder'pin for containing the priming, the openings] o, for the purpose of inserting' the priming with out withdrawing the cylinder-pin or plunger, substantially as described.

5. The spring or its equivalent ou the under side ofthe barrel, for the purpose of keeping the cylinder-pin and plunger in place and allowing the latter to be withdrawn independent of the former, or both at once, substantially as set'l'orth.

G. W. B. GEDNEY. Witnesses:

. ROBERT TAYLOR,

EDWARD G. J UDsoN.

cut-tingoftaudcarryingupV 

